text:
Radian Group Inc. and MGIC Investment Corp. are among mortgage insurers that would need to fill a financial gap under new financial-strength rules proposed by the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
Radian said it would need about $850 million to meet the standard now and expects to be able to comply within a two-year transition period allowed under the rules. Milwaukee-based MGIC didn't provide a figure and said it faced a "material shortfall." Genworth Financial Inc. said yesterday that it may need as much as $550 million at its mortgage insurer by June 30, 2015, to meet the standards.
U.S. regulators are seeking to stiffen standards for mortgage insurers that back loans sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to prevent a repeat of the losses the government-backed firms faced in the 2008 financial crisis. Radian and MGIC said the rules are too stringent and could make it more difficult for borrowers to afford homes.
"These guidelines create capital requirements that have the potential of shrinking access to the very segments of borrowers that we believe the government wants to expand homeownership for," Radian Chief Executive Officer S.A. Ibrahim said in an interview. "They are going to be worst hit from this, one way or the other."
Radian, MGIC and Genworth said they have ways to meet the higher asset levels, which may change in a final version of the rules. The companies cited strategies such as seeking reinsurance, selling assets, raising funds in the market or moving cash from other parts of their businesses.
"We have at Radian the ability to meet these requirements, even as stated, without the need to raise capital," Ibrahim said.
The rules are more onerous for MGIC, because the company backs more delinquent and older loans than rivals, according to Eric Beardsley, an analyst at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. He removed the stock from his "Conviction List" today. Beardsley said the companies may need to raise prices, which could pressure sales.
MGIC fell 9.3 percent to $8.38 at 9:35 a.m. Richmond, Virginia-based Genworth, which also sells life insurance and long-term care coverage, slumped 5.7 percent. Radian, based in Philadelphia, dropped 4 percent.
The proposed rules are tighter than expected, particularly in their treatment of riskier borrowers, Jack Micenko, an analyst at Susquehanna International Group, said in a research note today.
"The proposal is more onerous than we expected, and we believe if finalized under current form, would hurt the recovery in housing by limiting credit expansion," he wrote. "We expect final rules to be less limiting than what was put forth yesterday. Realtors, lenders and builder trade groups are powerful lobbies."
The companies have already turned to the capital markets to raise funds, so they can sell more coverage as home sales recover. Billionaire John Paulson is among the biggest equity investors in Radian, Milwaukee-based MGIC and Genworth. George Soros and Kyle Bass are among backers of rival firms.
To back loans packaged into securities by the U.S.-owned mortgage-finance giants, insurers would have to hold liquid assets worth at least 5.6 percent of their risk exposure, under the Federal Housing Finance Agency proposal. That compares with about 4 percent under existing state-based rules that use a broader definition of capital. The new rules require holding more assets against riskier loans, such as to borrowers with lower credit scores.
"Mortgage insurance counterparties must be able to fulfill their intended role of providing private capital, even in adverse market conditions," FHFA Director Melvin L. Watt said in an e-mailed statement.
The rules "require mortgage insurers to hold unnecessarily excessive assets with potential adverse effects on creditworthy borrowers and housing policy," MGIC said in a statement yesterday.
Mortgage insurers now face 25-to-1 risk-to-capital limits from some state regulators. The new rules would require Radian to hold resources equivalent to a ratio of about 12-to-1 over time, Radian Chief Risk Officer Derek Brummer said on a conference call with analysts yesterday.
The proposal is the result of a years-long effort to rewrite the rules after Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac suffered losses when mortgage-insurance companies weren't able to meet their obligations after the housing bubble burst. During the housing crash, about half the mortgage-insurance industry was pushed out of the business.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been under orders from their regulator to reduce their counterparty risk since they were seized by the federal government as they neared bankruptcy in 2008. They required $187.5 billion in taxpayer funds to stay afloat before they began posting record profits as the housing market recovered.
Fannie Mae, created by Congress during the Great Depression of the 1930s, and Freddie Mac, established in 1970 to compete with its older sister, keep money flowing through the U.S. home- loan machine by guaranteeing securities that lenders sell for the cash they can use to make more loans.
The guarantees provided by the two companies are separate from mortgage insurance, which cover losses when homeowners default and foreclosures fail to recoup costs.
American International Group Inc.'s United Guaranty Corp., the largest seller of the coverage, said it supports efforts to bolster confidence in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. AIG, which mostly sells property-casualty coverage and life insurance, slipped 0.6 percent.
Arch Capital Group Ltd. and Essent Group Ltd., which began selling coverage after the crisis, said in statements that they would be in compliance if the new rules took 'effect immediately. Another new firm, NMI Holdings Inc., said the rules are "a step in the right direction," and that it will be "well positioned" to meet the standards.
The proposals were developed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in consultation with state insurance regulators and the mortgage insurers themselves. The rules are now open for a 60-day comment period, and the final version will become effective 180 days after they're published.


text:
Suffolk, ss. Division of Administrative Law Appeals
Antonio Fermano,
v. Docket No. CR-03-179
Malden Retirement Board,
Appearance for Petitioner:
Antonio Fermano, pro se
24 Thacher Street
Malden, MA 02148
Appearance for Respondent:
Michael Sacco, Esq.
Law Offices of Michael Sacco
285 College Hwy., P.O. Box 479
Southampton, MA 01073-0479
Administrative Magistrate:
Kenneth J. Forton, Esq.
The Petitioner, Antonio Fermano, timely appeals, pursuant to G.L. c. 32, § 16(4), the March 26, 2003 decision of the Respondent, Malden Retirement Board, to exclude the personal use value of his employer-supplied automobile from the calculation of Mr. Fermano's superannuation retirement allowance.
On June 30, 2008, the Respondent, Malden Retirement Board, moved to dismiss Mr. Fermano's appeal, arguing that the recent Supreme Judicial Court case, Pelonzi v. Retirement Bd. of Beverly, 451 Mass. 475 (2008), controls the sole issue in this appeal. The Petitioner filed no opposition to the motion. Pursuant to 801 CMR 1.01(7)(a)(2), I have determined that the presentation of testimony or oral argument would not advance the presiding Magistrate's understanding of the issues involved; therefore, no hearing on the motion was held.
Pursuant to 801 CMR 1.01(7)(a)(2), I make the following findings of fact:
1. Antonio Fermano retired from the Malden Police Department on November 10, 1979. At the time of his retirement, Mr. Fermano was Police Chief.
2. While he was Police Chief, the Department assigned Mr. Fermano an unmarked automobile to be used in connection with his official duties.
3. When Mr. Fermano retired, the personal use value of the automobile was not included in regular compensation for purposes of calculating his retirement allowance.
4. Effective March 31, 2002, Mr. Fermano's retirement allowance was adjusted to include the personal use value of the automobile in his regular compensation. After the adjustment, the Malden Retirement Board issued Mr. Fermano a check for $13,751.96, which covered the retroactive period. His monthly retirement allowance also increased $51.28.
5. Mr. Fermano remitted to the Board $397.32, which represents the contributions he would have made to the retirement system if the personal use value of the automobile had been included in his regular compensation. Ultimately, the Board refunded the $397.32 to Mr. Fermano, citing Internal Revenue and U.S. Treasury regulations.
6. On March 26, 2003, counsel for the Board informed Mr. Fermano that the Board had reconsidered its earlier decision to include the personal use value of the automobile in calculating his retirement allowance. Accordingly, the Board reduced Mr. Fermano's monthly retirement allowance by $51.28, the same amount that it had been increased by the Board a year earlier.
7. Mr. Fermano filed a timely appeal of the Board's decision with the Contributory Retirement Appeal Board on April 2, 2003.
The Respondent's Motion to Dismiss is granted. Personal use value of an employer-supplied automobile is not regular compensation and may not be included, thus, when calculating Mr. Fermano's superannuation retirement allowance. This being Mr. Fermano's only ground for appeal, the appeal must be dismissed.
G.L. c. 32, § 5(2)(a) provides that a superannuation retirement allowance shall be "based on the average annual rate of regular compensation received by such member" (emphasis added) during the member's last three years, or highest paid three years, of creditable service. Regular compensation as defined in G.L. c. 32, § 1 is "the salary, wages or other compensation in whatever form, lawfully determined for the individual service of the employee by the employing authority, not including bonus, overtime, severance pay for any and all unused sick leave, early retirement incentives, or any other payments made as a result of giving notice of retirement . . . ."
The Petitioner contends that the personal use value of the automobile issued to him by the Malden Police Department should have been included as regular compensation in calculating his superannuation retirement allowance, since the payments meet the definition of regular compensation outlined in G.L. c. 32, § 1. The Respondent contends that Pelonzi v. Retirement Bd. of Beverly, 451 Mass. 475 (2008), specifically excludes personal use value of an employer supplied automobile from regular compensation, and, accordingly, Mr. Fermano's appeal must be dismissed.
I conclude that this issue is controlled by Pelonzi, a case where the petitioner was the former Commissioner of Public Safety and Fire Chief for the City of Beverly. Id. at 476.
There, the Commissioner was issued an unmarked automobile to be used in connection with his official duties and his professional growth. Id. The automobile could also be used for personal reasons, since the Commissioner was on-call in the event of an emergency. Id. The Beverly Retirement Board determined that the personal use value of the Commissioner's automobile should not be included as regular compensation. The commissioner appealed the Board's decision. Ultimately, the Supreme Judicial Court issued a decision in the case.
The Pelonzi court was clear. "Although § 1's definition of regular compensation may be broad, there is nothing in the entire statutory scheme that would indicate a legislative intent to include an employer-supplied automobile that is required by the fundamental nature of an employee's job." Id. at 482. "Compensation, in the context of § 1," the Court held, "can only be understood to mean payment for services rendered to an employer." Id. at 480. The Court reasoned that the automobile was contemplated as "a tool, or piece of equipment, that would enable the plaintiff to perform his job more effectively," not as compensation for the Commissioner's service to the city. Id.
Mr. Fermano's automobile likewise was a tool that was designed to help him perform his job more effectively. Mr. Fermano was on-call and needed to respond to emergencies. Thus, use of the automobile was not intended to compensate Mr. Fermano for his service to the Malden Police Department, and the value of the personal use of the automobile cannot be included as regular compensation when calculating Mr. Fermano's superannuation retirement allowance.
For the above-stated reasons, the Respondent's Motion to Dismiss is granted, pursuant to 801 CMR 1.01(7)(g)(3). This appeal is, therefore, dismissed with prejudice.
This is a final agency decision. Any objections to this decision must be made in writing to the Contributory Retirement Appeal Board within fifteen (15) days, in accordance with G.L. c. 32, § 16(4).
Kenneth J. Forton
Administrative Magistrate
This information is provided by the Division of Administrative Law Appeals .

subset: commoncrawl


text: The Cold Steel GI Tanto is a tactical knife designed for practical uses such as camping and hunting. The knife features a 7-inch Tanto blade of 1055 carbon steel blade with hard spring temper and black rust-resistant finish. The knife can also be converted into a spear. You just need to remove the handle scales and lash the blade securely to a wooden shaft. $26.39.


text:
Understanding Tangent as a Function
Lesson 4 of 10
Objective: SWBAT use the tangent function and its inverse to solve for the missing sides and angles of a right triangle. Students will understand the meaning of the tangent function and how it is related to the tangent ratio.
Big Idea: Tables reveal the nature of the tangent function as students extend their strategies to include its inverse. Now we know all the angles!
Present the lesson opener. The opener for this lesson (found in the slideshow) asks students to find missing sides of two right triangles given an acute angle and the measure of one leg. Because the location of the unknown side relative to the given angle differs, it is correct to multiply the known length by the tangent ratio in one case, but the known length must be divided by the tangent ratio in the other.
Students can avoid this potential source of confusion by writing an algebraic equation using the definition of tangent and the measures given in the problem and then solving this equation for the missing side length. Many students will not like to write an equation, however, preferring to find the missing side length by performing operations on the given measures. The purpose of the opener is to recognize valid methods of finding the missing sides of a triangle using the tangent ratio and to steer students away from methods that are likely to lead to trouble. To hear my thoughts on which student-developed methods are valid and which are flawed, see the video that accompanies this lesson: ApplyingTangentandArctantent_Reflection.wmv.
The lesson opener follows the Team Warm-Up classroom routine, which is described in my Strategy folder. I ask students to work in their teams to agree on an answer. I tell them up front that I will choose a member of each team at random to write the team's solution on the white board. I predict that some students will multiply the known length of the second triangle by the tangent ratio, while others will divide. The students' solutions on the white board and the disagreement in their answers stimulate a short class discussion. I demonstrate the method that I recommend and recognize other approaches that are valid.
While students are working on the lesson opener, I take attendance and circulate around the classroom noting who does not have their homework or their materials.
After we hold a discussion about the opener, I display the agenda and learning goals for the lesson while distributing the resource for the next activity.
Resources (3)
Have students work in pairs and teams to practice applying the tangent and arc tangent function (15-20 minutes). Before class, print the resource for this activity. Make one copy for every two students and cut into half-sheets. You may want to make a few extra copies, in order to allow students to start over with a fresh sheet if they go down the wrong path. Distribute the half-sheets to the teams. Tell the students that they are to work in pairs to complete the problems.
I used a Kagan Structure (Rally Coach). My students learn the rules and roles for this mini-activity at the beginning of the school year, so it is a classroom routine. The instructions are in the slide show. More information on my use of this structure can be found in my Strategy folder.
Each student should have an opportunity to use the tangent ratio to find the missing sides of a right triangle twice before they are asked to use the relationship in reverse: finding the missing angle measure of a right triangle when they are given the lengths of its legs. As students are working, circulate around the classroom. Common problems to look for:
- Students may ignore the instructions and complete both parts (a and b) of a problem before changing roles (problem-solver and coach) with their partner. The sequence of problems is designed so that, when students switch roles after each part, all students get to see the same types of situations (albeit in a different order).
- Students may be confused when using the given side lengths to find the measure of an unknown acute angle, because they cannot find the actual ratio of sides that they calculated in the table. I tell student to use the nearest value in the table (MP6). This can lead to a short conversation on the fact that trigonometric ratios are often irrational numbers.
At the end of this activity, I collaborate with students in awarding 'team points'. More information on my use of team points can be found in my Strategy folder.
Resources (7)
Resources (7)
Have students complete the guided notes while summarizing what they have learned as a class (10-15 minutes). This activity follows a class routine. More information on my use of guided notes can be found in my Strategy folder. Before class, print the guided notes. Distribute the notes to the class, and lead the class in a summary of what they have learned about trigonometry and the tangent ratio as students complete the notes.
Resources (2)
Have students reflect on the lesson in pairs (3 minutes). Display the closing question and ask students o brainstorm answers in pairs, then as a team, before writing an answer. Students write their answers in their earning journals.
Homework as assigned in the syllabus for this unit.


text:
A-level Expressive Arts Tuition in Braintree, Witham and Halstead
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text:
BRISTOL, Tenn. - King University men's soccer coach, John Miglarese, has been selected as one of the lead instructors for the upcoming EXACT Soccer Georgia Boys Elite Prospect camp. This college soccer camp will take place on Sunday, December 15, and is open to all high school players that would like to compete.
This unique college soccer camp provides players with the opportunity to not only showcase individual field skills, but also their mental readiness. Miglarese will also join other top instructors from NCAA programs such as Darton College, Georgia Southern University, Lander University, Oglethorpe University, Florida Atlantic University, Wofford College, and University of Mobile. During the one day camp these instructors will conduct small group clinic activity, observe players in showcasing their development potential, and lead one-on-one review sessions with each player.
Combined with the elite instruction of experienced NCAA coaches, EXACT Sports also provides the mental training used across professional and college sports. Please visit http://exactsports.com/soccer/ or call 888-853-8877 for further information.


text:
Human Resources Home > Performance & Pay > Payroll
The payroll department is responsible for the processing of payroll, labor distribution posting to the General Ledger, tax withholding, non-benefit payroll deductions, and other activities required to generate payroll payments to University employees. The payroll department is also responsible for ensuring the University is in compliance with employer federal, state and local tax regulations, and preparing annual W-2 statements for employees.
Payroll Calendars


text:
Dennis Chambers started playing drums at the age of 4 and by the age of 6 he was playing in nightclubs.
Chambers had no former schooling in music. All his musical training came from playing in nightclubs. At the age
of 18 he went from High School to a band called Parliament and Funkadelic. He joined the band in 1978 and
played until 1985. From that point he joined Special EFX in 1985. In 1987 Chambers joined the David Sanborn
Band and the John Scofield Band, which ended 1989. Shortly afterwards he joined the Mike Stern/Bob Berg
Band. From that time he has played in other bands and with bandleaders such as: Bill Evans, Mike Urbaniak,
George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Steve Kahn, The Brecker Brothers Band and many others. He also recorded his
own record Getting Even with Pioneer Records and instructional Video with DCI.
To find out more about Dennis, please visit his website at www.dennischambers.com.
Dennis' biography is courtesy of The "Europe Jazz Network."


text:
"I'm an Artist-Teacher born and raised in Dominican Republic. I was first introduce to sketching outdoors and reportage drawing while studying at Parsons in New York back in 1994, giving me the opportunity to get to know the city that hosted me for four years even better.
Back to Santo Domingo, sketching became a solitary activity as I didn't know anyone in the city with the same habit. In 2010, I came across the websites SketchCrawl.com and UrbanSketchers.org and I was delighted to find people who loved to draw and shared their drawings online. Within days I posted a Facebook event promoting the 1st Drawing Marathon in Santo Domingo and in July of the same year I was visiting Portland to attend the first symposium. One thing let to the other and this past summer I was very happy to host the 3rd USk Symposium in Santo Domingo. What an awesome and inspirational experience!
Runners call it "the runner's high", I call it "the Sketcher's High", that "feeling of euphoria" gotten from an entire day sketching outdoors, and it's precisely the feeling I get from urban sketching, even more when accompanied by fellow USk'ers.
I'm humbly honor to be here and share my sketches with you… looking forward to what's coming ahead!"
- Orling's blog
- Orling's art on flickr


text:
CLEMSON — Stanton Seckinger leads all Clemson tight ends with 156 receiving yards, which doesn't even place the sophomore close to the top 50 nationally at that position.
"We have to have that tight end element in our system. We haven't had that dominant guy this year," head coach Dabo Swinney said at his Tuesday press conference. "We're kind of a committee there, but it is what it is. But I love our guys, and they're going to get there."
Between Seckinger, sophomore Sam Cooper, and freshmen Jordan Leggett and Jay Jay McCullough, the Tigers' tight ends have given Clemson far from stirring statistics: 26 catches, 270 yards and five touchdowns through eight games.
Swinney had a proclamation Tuesday.
"We've got some of the best tight ends in the country, and I believe that. We're just young. We've got to grow them up, and we will," he said. "Y'all just write that down: as long as those boys don't get hurt, y'all are going to look up here in a couple years, going, man, we got the best tight ends in the country. Because that's what I think about those guys."
Particularly for Seckinger, who caught the winning touchdown pass to beat Georgia but lost a fumble on the opening play in the Florida State loss, Swinney has persistently defended the Porter-Gaud product.
"I know everybody's down on Seckinger, but let me just tell everybody in this room right now: that guy is a great football player. He's not yet, but he's gonna be," Swinney said. "He's lost his confidence, we gotta get his confidence, he'll respond. But don't throw that cat away. He's gonna win a bunch of games for us. Seckinger's going to grow up and be a heck of a player here."
If Clemson fans are turned off by the critical remarks provided by color commentator Ed Cunningham, they're not alone
Each Sunday night around 10 p.m., Swinney will pop in the game tape from the previous day. While reviewing Clemson's slow-starting 40-27 victory at Maryland, Swinney paused due to the broadcasters' discussions.
"It was just real negative," Swinney said. "So I just turned it down."
He added he attempts not to get too rattled from hearing about Clemson's shortcomings rather than its successes.
"One of the things I tell my players all the time," Swinney said, "one of my favorite quotes ever, is 'Don't let anybody walk through your mind with their dirty feet.' And I try to live by that."
He'll have to test that patience again this weekend. Cunningham is joined by play-by-play partner Mike Patrick and sideline reporter Jeannine Edwards for the second straight week at Virginia.
Quarterback Tajh Boyd also gets perturbed by the putdowns.
"To be honest, kind of, yeah. Because we've done some great things here," Boyd said. "We lose a game, people act like it's the end of the world, and we're a top 10 team, we're 7-1. But that's just the nature of it."
Listing off the accomplishments Clemson has reached over the past few years, Swinney arrived at one of his favorite stated goals of staying in the top 10.
"Hey, we started in the top 10. Can we finish in the top 10?" Swinney said. "How many teams do that? It's very, very hard to do."
Well, a look at archives shows it's a coin flip proposition. In each of the past 10 seasons, either four, five or six preseason top 10 squads as determined by Associated Press poll voters have finished the year still in the top 10.
As of this week, five started there and remain there: No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Oregon, No. 4 Ohio State, No. 6 Stanford and No. 9 Clemson. Georgia, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Louisville and Florida have each dropped down.
Junior wide receiver Sammy Watkins is expected to leave Clemson following this season to enter the NFL Draft, and defensive end Vic Beasley said two weeks ago he's leaning in that direction as well.
Swinney understands the landscape of underclassmen moving to the next level if they're ready, but hasn't given any thought to who might test the waters.
"I don't even worry two seconds about that stuff," Swinney said. "I hope that they have that option. I hope they play so great that the Dallas Cowboys are lined up to take them in the top 10. That'd be just great, because it means they're playing really good football.
"Sammy Watkins to me is a top 10 pick, so I'd be surprised if he came back, but who knows? I didn't think (CJ) Spiller was coming back (in 2009.)"
For his part, Watkins is flattered by his coach's perspective, but said he's remained focused on the rest of this season.
"As a coach and as a player, we don't know where I would go in the draft. It's kind of a tricky system," Watkins said. "All I can do is keep playing hard and give the scouts what they're looking for, and everything will work out in the end."


text:
Fall Creek Falls Hosts Annual Spring Star Party May 10-11
Fall Creek Falls Inn Offering Special Package for Participants
PIKEVILLE, Tenn. – Fall Creek Falls State Park, Cumberland Astronomical Society, Vanderbilt University's Dyer Observatory and the Astronomy in the Parks Society announced today the Tennessee Spring Star Party will be held May 10-11 at the park. The program is designed to accommodate both beginning stargazers and experienced astronomers.
The Tennessee Spring Star Party begins Friday evening with dark sky field viewing of the beautiful night sky and continues Saturday with astronomy presentations and discussions. There will be more viewing opportunities Saturday evening. Saturday's events also will include planetarium shows and a special concert.
There is no registration fee for the event. The Fall Creek Falls Inn will offer special room packages for guests May 10-11. A two-night stay in a double-occupancy room and breakfast each morning is $148, excluding applicable taxes and gratuity. For more information or to make a reservation, call toll free at 1-800-250-8610.
The Cumberland Astronomical Society is an amateur astronomy club based in Gallatin. It focuses on bringing astronomy to the general public through events like the Tennessee Spring Star Party. To learn more about the club and Spring Star Party event, visit www.cumberlandastronomicalsociety.org or contact Allen Ball at email@example.com, Lloyd Watkins at firstname.lastname@example.com or the Betty Dunn Nature Center at 423-881-5708.
Fall Creek Falls State Park features waterfalls, cascades, streams, gorges, timberland and a variety of recreation facilities and activities. The park is located in Bledsoe and Van Buren counties, 11 miles east of Spencer and 11 miles west of Pikeville. It may be entered from Highway 111 or Highway 30. For more information about Fall Creek Falls State Park and upcoming activities, please visit the park's website at www.tnstateparks.com/FallCreekFalls. For information regarding the Friends of Fall Creek Falls, please visit www.fallcreekfalls.org.


text:
Does anyone have any suggestions beyond just making sure to stay hydrated?
My skin is drying out like crazy!
All topics relating to health, diet, nutrition programs and any questions you might have about general health.
Moderators: Mini Forklift Ⓥ, C.O., Richard, robert, SyrLinus
3 posts • Page 1 of 1
Re: My skin is drying out like crazy!
Nuts are s'pose to be good for dry skin. (vitamin e). You probably already include those tho... ?
If it's important to you, you'll find a way. If it isn't, you'll find an excuse.
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- Rabbit
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Re: My skin is drying out like crazy!
Do you have any bacteria fobias (or any other sorts)that make you wash your hands/body excessively? And/or if it's cold where you live wear lots of clothes (aside from keeping hydrated) preventing over expossure to cold air and subsequent dry skin. Not sure if any of this applicable in your case, but often a times small practical adjustments go a long way (I have had and still have skin issues,so know where you're coming from).
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text:
Super Bowl. Get on your apron and fire up the deep fryer.
If I had one, (a deep fryer) that's what I'd do. Baking works for me.
Today's appetizer, Buffalo Wing Dip, has become a family favorite. Nothing says testosterone like Buffalo Wings. Every time I make this it gets Raven reviews. ha. Rave reviews. Especially from the fist pumping crowd.
originally posted here
Buffalo Wing Dip
- 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
- 4 chicken breasts halves, cooked and chopped, or one rotisserie chicken, chopped
- 1/2 bottle Franks Hot Sauce
- 1/2 cup grated cheddar/jack mix or pepper jack cheese
- 1 cup Mozzarella, grated or chopped if using fresh
- 1 bottle Roka Blue Cheese Dressing
- Spread the cream cheese in a 9 x 13 pan. In a bowl combine chopped chicken, hot sauce and 1/2 cup each of the cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Dump this mixture over the cream cheese. Drizzle the Blue Cheese dressing over top. Top with grated mozzarella. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Serve immediately with tortilla chips or baguette slices.
- I spread this into two 9 inch round baking dishes.-I used about 1/2 bottle of the Blue Cheese dressing.In the photo above, we drizzled the dressing over the top of the baked dish and sprinkled with a little blue cheese.


text:
Pearle Vision Glen BurnieStore's name : PEARLE VISION (SOUTHDALE SHOPPING CENTER)
Address & Contacts
(410) 768-5550
Pearle Vision
21061 Glen Burnie
Opening Times
|09:00am - 8:00pm
|09:00am - 8:00pm
|09:00am - 8:00pm
|09:00am - 8:00pm
|09:00am - 8:00pm
|09:00am - 5:00pm
Warning, Stores-Locator.com is a participative website where everyone can indicate the opening hours, please let us know if you notice any mistake.
Pearle Vision Glen Burnie is usually open Sunday.
These times do not include public holidays. To see if your store is open these days, contact them.
- Opticians
- Pearle Vision in Baltimore 3512 EASTERN AVE.
- Pearle Vision in Ellicott City 10050 BALTIMORE NATIONAL PIKE #F100
- Pearle Vision in Laurel 14811 BALTIMORE AVENUE
- America's Best in Glen Burnie (6.55 km)
- Pearle Vision in Baltimore (16.75 km)
- America's Best in Annapolis (17.44 km)
- Latitude : 39.138262
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Cesar Azpilicueta signs new Chelsea contract
Cesar Azpilicueta has signed a new five-year contract at Chelsea.
- Costa pleased with Chelsea start
- Worrall: Mourinho defensive concerns are warranted
We're delighted to announce @cesarazpi has signed a new five-year contract! http://t.co/0aSaX6vZgs #CFC pic.twitter.com/GCN5Xrle2p
- Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) September 2, 2014
The Spain international, who signed from Marseille in 2012, has proved himself an important player under Jose Mourinho.
He became established as the club's first-choice left-back last season despite competition from Ashley Cole and has remained in the side despite the summer signing of Filipe Luis from Atletico Madrid.
He has made 95 appearances to date for the Blues and won the Players' Player of the Year award last season.
Information from the Press Association was used in this report.
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Gotham's most famous crime fighter is featured on the new poster for New York Comic Con.
Current "Detective Comics" co-writer and artist Francis Manapul, known for his work on such titles as "The Flash," "Justice League," "Witchblade" and "The Necromancer," created the image for the upcoming pop culture expo, which will take place at Manhattan's Javits Center Oct. 9-12.
The poster superimposes a determined looking Batman over a map of the five boroughs; the iconic vigilante marks his 75th anniversary this year.
Although it began as a more narrowly focused celebration of comic books, like its behemoth West Coast rival, San Diego's Comic-Con International, NYCC is increasingly dominated by pop culture – especially television.
Last year, an estimated 130,000 fans descended on New York's far west side to attend the four-day confab featuring some 400 panels, screenings and special events.
Visit newyorkcomiccon.com for more details about the upcoming expo.
— Gina McIntyre and Meredith Blake | @LATHeroComplex
'Robin Rises': Peter J. Tomasi on one-shot, 'Batman and Robin' 33
'Batman: Zero Year' 30: Scott Snyder opens the curtain on 'Savage City'
'Batman Eternal' 2 preview: Jim Gordon in shackles!
Batman 75th anniversary: Warner Bros., DC reveal Bat-logo, Bat-plans
'Batman: Death of the Family' graphic novel to come with Joker mask
'Batman' TV series creator Lorenzo Semple Jr. dies at 91
'Batman: Zero Year': Scott Snyder talks Crime Alley, 'Eternal's' Bluebird


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The only thing closer than the LSU and Tulane campuses in this in-state women's basketball rivalry has been the results of the games.
LSU won three years ago 73-65 at Tulane, but the game was decided in overtime. Tulane won 54-52 in 2010 at LSU, then turned back the Lady Tigers 65-62 in overtime a season ago.
To expect anything less than another taut thriller when LSU hosts Tulane at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center would be foolish, both coaches said.
"An in-state rivalry with a lot on the line this time of year makes for a very intense game," LSU's Nikki Caldwell said.
"This is ... always a close game," Tulane's Lisa Stockton said. "It's always really competitive, and they're playing very well right now, so we'll have to be ready to play our best basketball."
Both teams come into this annual early-season showdown playing some of their best.
LSU (4-2) ran its winning streak to three games last Sunday with an 81-73 victory over visiting N.C. State. Tulane (6-1) rebounded from a 70-65 loss at Auburn to win 73-58 at home last Sunday against UNC-Wilmington.
The N.C. State game included the debut of LSU's four-guard, one-post lineup. The Lady Tigers added freshman Danielle Ballard — second among Southeastern Conference freshmen at 13.2 points per game — to a guard-heavy lineup that included seniors Adrienne Webb (15.2 points, 3.8 rebounds per game) and Bianca Lutley (9.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg) and junior Jeanne Kenney (6.8 points, 4.3 assists).
LSU's only starting post player is 6-foot-5 Theresa Plaisance, who has blossomed as a full-time starter in her junior season. Plaisance, coming off a career-high 28 points against N.C. State, is second in the SEC at 17.8 points per game, fourth in rebounding (8.7) and second in blocks (2.3).
"I think the team has a lot of confidence in me now, and I have more confidence in myself," she said. "I'm looking forward to the challenge."
Tulane will go with a more traditional lineup with two guards, two forwards and a center. Janique Kautsky, a 5-9 junior forward, is the Green Wave's only double-figure scorer at 10.3 points per game. OliviaGrayson, a 5-8 senior point guard, averages 9.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists.
LSU's biggest concern against Tulane is rebounding. The Lady Tigers have a minus-3.2 rebounding deficit for the season, averaging 34.7 rebounds per contest. Tulane is at plus-7.0, averaging 41.7.
"We have a smaller group of players than we had previously," Caldwell said. "We all have to focus every day because we're undersized when we're in our (extra) guard lineup."
The game will be televised on CST. Lyn Rollins and Victor Howellwill handle the commentary. The game can be heard on radio in Baton Rouge on WBRP-FM, 107.3 ... Caldwell is going for her 100th career win. She is 27-13 at LSU and was 72-26 in three seasons at UCLA. ... LSU leads the all-time series 28-5. ... The Lady Tigers continue their homestand at 7 p.m. Tuesday against East Tennessee State. The Green Wave is off until Dec. 19, when they open a six-game home stand at 11 a.m. against Louisiana-Lafayette.


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Damir Doma made one of the most fantastic pairs of shoes of the fall season: a creeper/wedge mash-up that has an alien vibe I'm really digging! Get em at LN-CC!
6 comments:
- STOP IT RIGHT NOW said...
I'm pretty sure we get the same emails and look on the same sites and the same exact moments. Shared brain much. Another draft I have yet to post about these fine shoes. Want want want.
- September 2, 2011 at 8:51 PM
- Julian said...
Am I dreaming or do these shoes really exist? Aaaaaah I love them.
- September 4, 2011 at 8:33 AM
- Magnet said...
I like the platform that's for sure.
- September 4, 2011 at 9:17 AM
- Linda Lu said...
all I can say is "awesome."
- September 5, 2011 at 6:39 PM
- g said...
aaa finally!!!!
- September 6, 2011 at 7:27 AM
Sold out at LN-CC! One left in size 36 (they run small, too) on monamoore.com. My dream shoes!
- September 14, 2011 at 8:28 AM
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"With Neymar on board, I would have planned for the possibility of selling Lionel Messi, and some would agree with that, others not. It's a risk. I wouldn't have signed Neymar."
Those were the very words of Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff, as reported by the Spanish Daily, Marca, as he commented on Barcelona's €57m acquisition of wonderkid Neymar from Santos.
Cruyff mentioned his apprehension that the 21-year-old Brazilian forward, who is currently on duty for Confederation Cup 2013 finalists Brazil, will find it difficult to adjust to the team ethic at Barcelona and won't be able to get along with everyone in the squad.
The Dutch maestro's justification for his comments regarding the possibility of having to sell talismanic forward Messi to make space for Neymar was that the egos of the two South American stars would make it difficult for them to play together, hence disrupting the flow of the team's performances on the pitch.
By saying that he would not have signed the Brazilian in the first place, if given a choice, Cruyff adopted the stance that there was no need to make such significant alterations to Barcelona's squad and style of play.
But was he right? Here's a look at some of the reasons for which Cruyff could be proven wrong over the course of Neymar's time with the Catalan giants.
First, a quick look at the "clash of egos" that Cruyff believes will take place. If I may say so, Barcelona's biggest offensive signings in recent years - Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Villa - all brought different kinds of egos with them.
Henry arrived as Arsenal's greatest ever goalscorer (and possibly their greatest ever player), a World and European champion, and one of the greatest strikers in recent memory.
Ibrahimovic joined Barcelona on the back of several titles from his time in Italy, and Villa - signed as a replacement for Ibrahimovic - is the highest scorer for the Spanish national team and a star of Spain's successful Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 campaigns.
Admittedly, Ibrahimovic had rather well-known problems with the way Guardiola operated, and Villa reportedly had a few disagreements with strike partner Messi but, overall, these "bust-ups" had very little noticeable impact on their performances - all three strikers won La Liga with the club, with Villa and Henry also achieving European glory.
And how is this relevant to Neymar, you might ask. A look back at the way some of Barcelona's most high-profile offensive signings have fared shows that the work ethic at the club, and the strong bond forged between members of the club's La Masia products, actually helps these big names settle down quicker than they otherwise would have - and this brings out their best football.
Also, the fact that Neymar is only at the fledgling end of his career, and has repeatedly spoken of his desire to play with the likes of Messi and Andres Iniesta during his lengthy courtship with Barcelona, will spur him on in his attempts to cast aside personal issues and devote himself to forming a potentially lethal partnership with them, something that does not bode well for clubs across Europe.
And now for a look at whether or not Neymar's playing style will render him more of a hindrance to Barcelona's style of play than an expedition of it.
If Neymar's performances on the left side of the three-man offensive line that Brazil have fielded to devastating effect in the on-going Confederations Cup are to serve as evidence, he will have no problems whatsoever in settling into Barcelona's preferred 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 systems.
In all of Brazil's four games, Neymar has not only displayed spectacular individual ability, but has proved his worth to the team by combining brilliantly with Real Madrid left-back Marcelo down the left flank.
With Spanish left-back Jordi Alba offering much the same kind of threat as Marcelo, it will be a treat to watch the kind of rapport he builds with Neymar at Barcelona.
The two players would complement each other perfectly, with Neymar equally capable of cutting in from the flank (and allowing Alba to make Roberto Carlos-esque runs down the touchline) as he is of staying wide and crossing the ball from the byline (remember Jo's goal against Mexico?), a situation where Alba would play only a supporting role as a left-back rather than a wing-back.
Admitted, Neymar has an affinity for overdoing things, and is a bit of a show-boater, but he has proved that he can surrender the spotlight when necessary, in order for the team to function well as a unit.
There have been concerns that his individualism on the pitch - his attempts to steal the spotlight by trying overly spectacular pieces of skill when simple passes would have sufficed - will make it difficult for him to play with the talismanic Messi. But, on the contrary, from what we have seen of the way he plays, he will only help Messi get - as scary as it may sound - even better.
Barcelona's football in the offensive third of the pitch relies heavily on wingers cutting in from the flanks, linking up with the central striker by playing intricate one-twos and finding killer passes that cut through defences. The likes of Pedro, Alexis Sanchez and Villa have excelled at this, and their link-up play with Messi has worked wonders for Pep Guardiola down the years, and now Tito Vilanova.
It would be fair to say that from the way Neymar has combined with Brazilian striker Fred - cast your memory back to Brazil's opening goal against Japan in their group match - he will offer the same kind of threat cutting in from the flanks as Barcelona's current wide players, except at higher levels of individual quality.
Messi is nearly peerless when it comes to cutting in from the right side of the field, onto his left foot, playing one-twos and creating chances for marauding full-backs, or even taking shots himself. Now imagine Neymar on the left, offering the exact same threat as Messi. I can't think of too many offensive partnerships that would strike such fear into the hearts of defenders.
Also, it may be worthwhile to consider the fact that most teams tend to double-mark or even triple-mark both Neymar and Messi, and this will create more space to work with for either player, when they play together.
Barcelona seem to operate best when playing a convergent 4-3-3 system, with Pedro and Messi cutting in from either flank, and Alba and Dani Alves dutifully performing their roles as wing-backs to deadly effect, and the signing of Neymar will only serve to make this system even more effective.
If Vilanova can help Neymar keep his attitude in check, the Brazilian could just be a crucial piece to the jigsaw, as Barcelona plot a return to the summit of European football.
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In West Africa, cotton ginners not only provide financing for cotton farmers but also maintain roads and provide educational opportunities for them. In India, one out of every 25 inhabitants is a cotton farmer.
Those are just a few of the practices and peculiarities that make up the universe of cotton production outside the familiar confines of the United States. A panel of experts discussed how foreign farmers forge a living on cotton during the recent 2002 Beltwide Cotton Conference in Atlanta.
Australia: Cotton production, "is a lot like it is in the United States," said Timothy Drew, research and development manager, Cotton Seed International, Wee-Waa, New South Wales, Australia.
Australian cotton production developed steadily from when it was first introduced in the early 1960s until the early 1980s, when acreage began to grow more rapidly. Drew noted that the entire industry consists of only around 1,500 growers, but they are a highly educated, highly sophisticated group.
Today, Australia is the world's sixth largest cotton producing country with 3 percent of world production.
"However, the Australian industry is very much influenced by the amount of rainfall it receives each year, not only for the benefit of crops but to help provide irrigation water," Drew said.
As in America, the Australian cotton industry is modern and innovative, but is quite vulnerable to world market prices. Grower practices are aimed at increasing yields and thereby decreasing the cost of production. Australians use a range of technologies including the Global Positioning System, infrared satellite images and computers.
"The export destination of the Australian crop is primarily into Asia and the Far East," Drew said. "Over 80 percent of the Australian crop has an average staple length of 1.18 and strength of 28 or better. The majority of the micronaire is in the ideal range."
Australian cotton is machine-picked and moduled and goes to modern, efficient gins. "The industry is trying to reducing freight and transport costs through strategically-located warehouses," Drew said.
Plantings in the 2001/02 season were down 23 percent from the previous year, noted Drew. Last year, 3.5 million bales were produced on 1.2 million acres. Forecasts for 2002/03 are that 2.9 million bales will be produced on 1.1 million acres.
Brazil: Last season, Brazil produced about 4 million bales of cotton and enjoyed a bumper crop in the Mato Grosso region due to higher than anticipated yields, according to Ricardo Varela, Dunavant Enterprises, Memphis.
Projected consumption in 2001/02 was around 3.9 million bales, down slightly from the previous year. "We expect a 15 to 20 percent reduction in planting in Brazil this planting season because of poor prices. Brazil may need to import some cotton in the three to four months, maybe 300,000 to 400,000 bales."
Since 1997, the Mato Grosso growing region of west Brazil has been developing into a more modern enterprise, according to Varela. "New seed varieties came into play, and new techniques, including soybean/cotton rotation programs. In addition, the region has had a 15 to 20 year history of favorable weather patterns."
Today, the Mato Grosso region comprises 40 percent of cotton acreage in Brazil, and produces 60 percent of the country's output. Mato Grosso farms average 3,000 to 5,000 acres but labor costs are much lower than in the United States. The crop is rain-grown, with 65 to 75 inches falling between Nov. 15 and May 15. Little rain falls between May 15 and Nov. 15.
According to Varela, Mato Grosso cotton producers spend roughly $1,000 to $1,200 per hectare on their cotton crop, ($415 to $500 per acre). They harvest an average of about 10,000 pounds of seed cotton, which produces about 3,900 pounds of lint cotton per hectare (3.4 bales) at a 39 percent turnout.
Depending on the rate of exchange, the price they receive for cotton is about 35 to 38 cents a pound, for a gross income of $566 to $614 per acre. In addition, Brazilian growers do receive some government assistance, "when the government has the money to do."
Brazilian farmers are behind U.S. growers in land preparation, "especially the ability to laser-level land and the use of satellite technology. As for cultural practices, harvesting and ginning, Brazilian growers are on par with the United States. They make 4-5 applications of pre-emergent herbicides, six to eight herbicide applications and eight to 12 insecticide applications."
But Brazilian growers, "are very much behind U.S. growers in the marketing of the crop," Varela said. "U.S. farmers use tools like futures and options that Brazilian farmers are not using."
China: China has about 200 million farm households farming an average of 1.29 acres and earning less than $400 a year, according to Hunter Colby, managing director of cotton economics, Globecot, Nashville.
There is little or no mechanization in China; however, small tractors have begun to appear in the countryside. Cotton pesticide applications are handled with back-mounted hand pumps. However, many small fields are sprayed at different times, creating refuges for insect pests. Important pests include bollworm, aphids and spider mites.
All the picking of cotton is by hand and transported via three-wheeled bicycle carts to government-run procurement stations. However, some private cotton dealers have emerged this year, according to Colby.
Cotton stalks are cut after harvest. Some farmers will dry and burn the stalks for cooking and to heat their homes during winter.
This past year, cotton farm incomes plummeted due to the dismantling of the high, government-set cotton procurement price. Early surveys in China suggest that farmers are planning to reduce area sown to cotton this coming season by at least 20 percent.
Because of the WTO, substantial levels of cotton could be imported by China. This means that for the first time in more 50 years, China's cotton farmers will be directly impacted by world cotton prices.
India — India is the world's third-largest cotton-producing country and the second-largest cotton consuming country, according to Gerald C. Marshall, senior vice president for Hohenberg Bros., Memphis. One out of every five people in India is a farmer, and 20 to 25 percent of that number are cotton farmers.
About 23 million to 24 million acres are planted to cotton in India each year; however, it has the lowest average yield of any major-producing country.
India is divided into three cotton-producing regions. "The northern cotton region is at the same latitude as Montgomery, Ala. The central region is on the same latitude as central Mexico and the southern region has a climate zone similar to Venezuela."
With such an expansive production area, "it's fair to say that for 12 months out of the year, someone is planting cotton and someone is harvesting cotton."
The northern region is almost 100-percent irrigated, with water coming from canals fed by five rivers. "It's similar to California's San Joaquin Valley," Marshall said. "You can grow just about anything if you have the water. Away from the irrigation, it's virtually a desert. However, winters can be extremely cold.
"The quality of cotton grown there is a short staple cotton similar to that grown in west Texas, 3.2 to 4.5 micronaire and length of a 1.0 to 1.03. One quarter of India's cotton is grown in the region."
Most of the cotton in India's central zone is rain grown, and depends on the summer monsoon, which up until last year had been fairly reliable. The temperature is more moderate than the northern zone. "The quality of the cotton is similar to Memphis Territory, length, 1.06 to 1.09, with mike in the premium range."
The southern zone has a little less than a third of the acreage; about one-third is irrigated. The climate is tropical with the temperature rarely going below 65 degrees in the winter. Staple length of cotton can be over 2 inches.
Farming practices in India are poor, as are yields, which range from 260 to 290 pounds per acre. "Farmers have poor seed varieties and a serious debt problem, with most financing done through chemical and seed companies. In many cases, farmers don't have the money to take care of their fields," Marshall said.
Cotton is 100 percent hand harvested in India and much of it is roller ginned.
West Africa — Cotton production has increased significantly each year since 1949 and the region now produces 4 million bales annually. It is the world's third largest exporter of cotton, according to Curt Arbenz, merchant with Paul Reinhart AG, Winterthur, Switzerland.
Most of the cotton is middling quality or better, staple, almost 1.09 or better; and micronaire ranges from 3.5 to 4.5.
Arbenz noted that most fields are plowed using oxen. Crop dusting and picking is done by hand. An agency similar to the U.S. Extension Service sets up weighing stations at harvest for seed cotton. Farmers are paid at that time for their seed cotton — a price fixed by the government at 12.5 cents per pound.
"Transportation to the gin is the ginners' responsibility," Arbenz said. "Ginners provide farmer financing and also have to maintain the roads in their area, carry out literacy programs for farmers and women and build drinking wells for villages. They also distribute medicine and offer medical services."


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Bullshit, it wasn't until the players sat down without their donald that the finally came up with something new. Prior to that, it had been a rewording of the August proposal with guaranteed annual wage hikes. It was in those meeting that they finally came on board that linkage was a way of life and would remain so.okcanuck wrote:Meds
You really dont think that a more reasonable offer by the owners wouldn't have shortened this dispute? Of course it would have. If they came in with a more realistic offer, of say 52-48, and worked to 50-50 which is where they're at now , Feur wouldn't have the same solidarity of the players.
Even when the players made a big deal of their 50/50 offer back in November, it actually only got down to 53% the way they worked their make whole and that offer still had a guaranteed annual increase. Their 50/50 was a mirror so thin you could blow smoke through.


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Actually, the TOS say:purple planet wrote:sorry cant say anything cause my post well get deleted and i will get my number 4 warning - how much warnings are there ?
all this politcal issues are strongly connected to islam - how can i talk about this issues without talking about islam ? - i cant
( by the way im no bush fan just saying obama is worse)
So it would be against the TOS to argue, for example, that Islam is inherently evil. It is not be against the TOS to state opinions and worries about political and military conflicts.* Badmouthing of other spiritual paths is not allowed.
The TOS also does not allow:
and you are currently violating that portion of the TOS.meta-discussion (i.e. discussion about discussion),


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Political gridlock in Washington triggered across-the-board spending cuts, known as the sequester, in March. As a result, the Pentagon was given six months to eliminate $41 billion from the current year's budget, and unlike past cuts, this time everything is on the table. In 2011, America spent $711 billion dollars on its defense—more than the next 13 highest spending countries combined. But the burdens it shoulders, both at home and abroad, are unprecedented. Could the sequester be a rare opportunity to overhaul the armed forces, or will its impact damage military readiness and endanger national security?
Presented in partnership with The McCain Institute for International Leadership at Arizona State University, a center for research and action in national security and foreign policy. It seeks to promote leadership and decision-making, in the best American tradition of open inquiry, spirited discussion and practical action. Get involved at mccaininstitute.org.
Co-Director, Marilyn Ware Center for Security Studies, AEI
President, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments
Research Fellow, Cato Institute
Research Fellow, Hoover Institution
Author & Correspondent for ABC News
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Co-Director, Marilyn Ware Center for Security Studies, AEI
Thomas Donnelly, a defense and security policy analyst, is the co-director of the Marilyn Ware Center for Security Studies at AEI. He is the coauthor with Frederick W. Kagan of Lessons for a Long War: How America Can Win on New Battlefields (2010). Among his recent books are Ground Truth: The Future of U.S. Land Power (2008), Of Men and Materiel: The Crisis in Military Resources (2007), The Military We Need (2005); and Operation Iraqi Freedom: A Strategic Assessment (2004). From 1995 to 1999, he was policy group director and a professional staff member for the House Committee on Armed Services. Donnelly also served as a member of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. He is a former editor of Armed Forces Journal, Army Times, and Defense News.
President, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments
Andrew F. Krepinevich, Jr. is President president of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments. He assumed this position in 1993, following a 21-year career in the U.S. Army. Krepinevich has served in the Department of Defense's Office of Net Assessment and on the personal staff of three secretaries of defense. He currently serves on the Chief of Naval Operations' (CNO's) Advisory Board and on the Army Special Operations Command's Advisory Board. Krepinevich has served as a consultant on military affairs for many senior government officials, including several secretaries of defense, the CIA's National Intelligence Council, and all four military services. Krepinevich's most recent book is 7 Deadly Scenarios: A Military Futurist Explores War in the 21st Century. Krepinevich received the 1987 Furniss Award for his book, The Army and Vietnam.
Research Fellow, Cato Institute
Benjamin H. Friedman is a research fellow in defense and homeland security studies. His areas of expertise include counter-terrorism, homeland security and defense politics. He is the author of dozens of op-eds and journal articles and co-editor of two books, including Terrorizing Ourselves: Why U.S. Counterterrorism Policy Is Failing and How to Fix It, published in 2010. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science and an affiliate of the Security Studies Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Research Fellow, Hoover Institution
Kori Schake is a fellow at the Hoover Institution, where she is writing a book about the American experience as a rising power from 1840-1921. She has worked in the Pentagon's Joint Staff, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council, and the State Department's office of policy planning. During the 2008 presidential election, she was a senior policy advisor to the McCain-Palin campaign She previously held the distinguished chair in international security studies at the U.S. Military Academy, and taught in the faculties of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and the University of Maryland School of Public Affairs. She blogs for Shadow Government at Foreign Policy. Her most recent book is State of Disrepair: Fixing the Culture and Practices of the State Department (2012).
64% voted the same way in BOTH pre- and post-debate votes (14% voted FOR twice, 48% voted AGAINST twice, 2% voted UNDECIDED twice). 36% changed their minds (5% voted FOR then changed to AGAINST, 1% voted FOR then changed to UNDECIDED, 8% voted AGAINST then changed to FOR, 2% voted AGAINST then changed to UNDECIDED, 7% voted UNDECIDED then changed to FOR, 13% voted UNDECIDED then changed to AGAINST) | Breakdown Graphic
It's said these cuts would put us at 2008 levels. We were pretty good at killing in 2008, if I remember correctly. The military is the most inefficient segment of our government, they can't even account to where the money goes. I think the Pentagon can more than make up the 41B with efficiency efforts.
In response to commentators Robert Kaussner and Larry Krieger, I'd suspect that liberal 'against' debators would still present nearly the same stance as what we saw.
In fact, from a liberal perspective, I believe the current panelists would be preferable to a more liberal opposition; Moderate, independent, or conservative listeners would be far more prone to give the 'against' side a fair shake, rather than ideologically dismissing them out of hand. These presumably non-liberal panelists furthered the stereotypically liberal stance very capably by ensuring that the argument would not fall upon deaf ears.
What a horrible debate. This debate had so much potential to be informative, but even the moderator said "so exactly what do you two sides disagree about?"
I personally cannot wait till this generation speaking dies off and the internet generation takes over. This group doesn't even talk about the trend of global cooperation, and focuses on the old world model of imperialism.
This whole conversation is about us vs them, where it could have been, how do we make a greater us through cooperation.
This debate was nothing more than warmonger propaganda disguised as a reasonable conversation.
Ben Friedman is a liberal Democrat on most issues and a libertarian on foreign policy. How does that make him a conservative?
Why would conservatives want a massive military when it's being used to back the Muslim Brotherhood and al Qaeda in Syria? I didn't realize POTUS was a Sunni partisan, but then again, not many people did when they voted for him TWICE.
Going to war is a gift to the military industry and all the capitalists and investors who take the money they make and take over the country's economy and then declare war on our system ... adding liberal voices to the enemies list.
Our war-making ability is getting better, but we are not assailing the real threats in this world, Russia and China, in fact we are giving most of our economy to China. There is no realilty in this "enemy" talk, this is all about the military-industrial-energy-capital ... and the bad guys can fit right into our system if they have the money to buy in.
We can defeat the peasant armies by more refined terms, the same way we can bring in our own people, education, health-care, rule of law, etc.
This is all rationalization by the people who profit economically by the "hammer" system we have that forces all problems to be nails, urgent nails, that keeps us confused and unable to think clearly about how we really could bring the world closer to democracy, not take ourselves farther away.
More money for the Pentagon does not equal more security for the people of the United States and the world.
The United States is the major arms supplier for the world. Arms that are sometimes sold and traded and end up being used against our own troops. The wars must continue for the military/industrial complex Eisenhower warned us about.
Our enemies are not afraid of us now - with all that we have and are preparing to have. What will frighten them is when we get smart about our security and design a system that fits today's needs. When we are a country that honors health care, education, job creation, and a clean environment as real security, we will really be powerful.
We now have a budget that over emphasizes Pentagon spending so much that we look at every threat with the eye to use our military might. If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. But diplomacy and development go a much longer way than destroying a country, and then leaving.
I have the same question as Larry above. What gives in this particular selection of primarily conservative debate teams on both sides?
Why are there no liberal voices on this panel??
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Mussolini's Team
The Shalom Cup, held last week, was the most unlikely soccer tournament in the world. Not because it showcased Jewish soccer players, including Maccabi Haifa, one of the few stellar Israeli sides. What made the Shalom Cup truly unlikely was its host: the Roman club S.S. Lazio.
Although the S.S. stands for societá sportiva, Lazio merits the abbreviation's worst connotations. Of all the clubs in Europe, each with its own goon squad of skinhead supporters, Lazio fans are easily the most racist, anti-Semitic, pro-fascist, and despicable of the bunch. The management of Lazio intended the Shalom Cup to be both an act of reparations and public relations. But even in the club's moment of contrition, Lazio's fans couldn't suppress their hate. Four days before the tournament, the team's anti-Semitic fan clubs (called ultras) announced they would boycott the pro-Semitic cup. When a relatively mediocre Ivory Coast club beat mighty Lazio to hoist the Shalom trophy, a pathetic crowd of 10,000 fans bothered to show up.
Lazio has always had unsavory connections and a spot on the brownshirts' end of the political spectrum. Mussolini adored the team, frequently appearing in the stands. Il Duce even built Lazio's current stadium, replacing the old Stadio del Partito Nazionale Fascista. In part, Mussolini was drawn to Silvio Piola, the team's unstoppable striker. But the fascists had a deeper attraction to the club. Founded in 1900 by Italian army officers, the club shrouded itself in a martial ethos. The team's logo, a strident-looking eagle, looks as if it could have been ripped off of one of Mussolini's caps. And with its north Rome fan base, Lazio attracted the conservative shopkeepers and bumpkins who constituted fascism's rank and file.
As the memory of Mussolini has grown distant, Lazio's affection for fascism has increased. Rightist parties like the old Alleanza Nazionale treated the team's stadium as their recruiting grounds. In the '80s, the ultras' politics acquired a racist, xenophobic bent as Italy attracted immigrants and Italian soccer attracted Brazilian and African players. New venomous slogans and banners began appearing in the Curva Nord, the ultra section of Lazio's stadium. Before one game last year, police seized 60 different racist and anti-Semitic banners but missed several large ones, including a 50-meter-long banner that taunted fans from a cross-town rival by declaring that they had a "Black Squad, Jewish Home End." At another match against Roma, the opponents were greeted with a sign that told them, "Auschwitz is your town, the ovens your houses." The ultras have been known to appropriate the Nazi font when spelling the "S.S." in S.S. Lazio. And when watching Lazio's matches on the Fox Sports World cable network, you can still catch glimpses of Mussolini's visage adoringly displayed by the crowd.
The ultras aren't merely making political statements. They like to put their slogans into action. During the previous two seasons, police tied Lazio's ultras to several acts of domestic terrorism. One planted a bomb at a museum dedicated to Italy's World War II resistance. Rome police also defused a Lazio bomb at a theater showing a documentary on Adolf Eichmann. On other occasions, Lazio fans have desecrated Jewish cemeteries and beaten players from opposing teams. Even by the appalling standards of European soccer, Lazio fans are object lessons in amorality.
Remarkably, Lazio reflects its fans' sentiments. Unlike Roma or almost every other team in the Series A, Lazio's roster is devoid of black players. When it once imported one, Dutchman Aron Winter, he quickly left after the team's fans hounded him with chants of "nigger Jew." Rather suspiciously, nearly all of Lazio's current foreign imports hail from countries with fascist pasts—Chile, Argentina, and Serbia. The team's defender, Sinisa Mihajlovic, unabashedly trumpets his devotion to Slobodan Milosevic and his friendship with the Serbian paramilitary leader Arkan, whose band of thugs raped and pillaged their way across Bosnia. When Arkan was killed, Mihajlovic placed a wistful memorial notice in a Belgrade daily.
If that didn't convince Lazio's management to distance themselves from Mihajlovic—or, better yet, ship him back to Belgrade—his behavior on the field should have. Last season, a player of Senegalese descent accused Mihajlovic of calling him a "fucking black monkey." (Asked about the allegations, he replied: "I called him black shit. I didn't call him black monkey.") Alas, Lazio's punishment of Mihajlovic amounted to little more than a forced public apology. His coach even defended him: "I don't know whether you can call it racism. It's just making fun of someone." And moments after Mihajlovic made the apology, at a home game, fans began making monkey noises every time a Nigerian player touched the ball.
For a time, the embarrassment of Lazio could be hidden. The team wallowed in the middle of the Italian table. But in the late '90s it emerged as a European powerhouse, winning the UEFA Cup and lo scudetto, the national championship. Lazio's rise has come at the expense of the league's health, and the club's ethos has infected the entire culture of Italian soccer. Some of Italy's best players, including Zinedine Zidane, have fled to the better behaved, higher quality Spanish league. Others, like the magnificent Brazilian Cafu, have bemoaned the racism and openly considered leaving Italy behind. Even Lazio's President Sergio Cragnotti talks about his club in tones of disgust, calling its fans "imbeciles," and frequently threatens resignation. After handing the Africans the Shalom cup, however, he briefly cheered up and even described the moment as a "sign of civilization." It was Lazio's first.


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You are here
World Record Imaginations with Karen Benke
Date and Time:
November 6, 2010 - 11:00AM
Event Location:
Kray Hall
Free and Open to All
Young poets break impossible world records of their own invention in this writing workshop with Karen Benke, author of Rip the Page: Adventures in Creative Writing.
This program is suggested for ages eight to twelve.
Event Sponsored By:
Poets House
Event Type:
Children's Events


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This dish has a lot going for it, besides tasting great. It's easy to make. It's not too expensive, especially if you keep white wine on hand at all times (which I do). I made only a few minor changes to their versions.
If you adapt this recipe, as I did, I made this a one skillet recipe. I simply removed the chicken and potatoes and set them aside on a plate. Otherwise, you'll transfer the chicken and potatoes to a roasting pan. Next, I added the whole garlic cloves to the skillet and cooked them until golden brown (just don't burn them on a high heat). Now, add some white wine (I use Sauvignon Blanc) to deglaze the pan, and get those lovely bits of brown flavor loosened up. NOTE: Though I used half the amount of chicken in the recipe, I didn't decrease the sauce. Cathy said it was so good, that I wanted more for myself.


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Professor of Biology
Benjamin Pierce
LocationFondren-Jones 240
Areas of Expertise
Ecology, evolution, genetics of amphibians.
I teach in the Department of Biology. I've been at Southwestern for the past ten years. Prior to coming to Southwestern, I taught at Baylor University in Waco, Texas and Connecticut College in New London Connecticut.
PhD, University of Colorado 1980
BS, Southern Methodist University 1976
Professor and holder of the Lillian Nelson Pratt Chair
Southwestern University
January 01, 2005 - present
Baylor University, Waco, TX Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor of Biology, 1984-2005. Baylor University, Waco, TX Associate Dean for Sciences, 1996-2002. Connecticut College, New London, CT Assistant Professor of Biology, 1980-1984.
Teaching Philosophy
The teacher acts as a guide for student-centered learning.
Previous Courses
BIO50-112 Biodiversity, BIO50-334 - Evolution, BIO50-314 - Genetics, Bio50-222- Methods in Ecology and Evolution
population genetics, ecology, and evolution; amphibian biology; science education.
Author of :
Genetics: A Conceptual Approach, a leading college textbook in genetics, now in its 6th edition.
Genetics Essentials: Concepts and Connections, another college textbook in genetics, now in its 3rd edition.
Transmission and Population Genetics, a college textbook.
The Family Genetics Sourcebook, a tradebook about genetics.
Author of 42 research articles in peer-reviewed journals.
Recent Representative Publications:
McEntire, K. D. and B. A. Pierce. 2015. Eurycea naufragia (Georgetown salamander). Behavior. Herpetological Review 46:209.
Pierce, B. A., K. D. McEntire, and A. E. Wall. 2014. Population size, movement, and reproduction of the Georgetown Salamander, Eurycea naufragia. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 9:137-145.
Hua, J. and B. A. Pierce. 2013. Lethal and sublethal effects of salinity on three common Texas amphibians. Copeia 2013:563-567.
Pierce, B. A. and A. S. Hall. 2013. Call latency as a measure of calling intensity in anuran auditory surveys. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 8:199-206.
Biagas, T. D., A. S. Hall, A. L. Ritzer, and B. A. Pierce. 2012. Time of day does not affect detection in visual encounter surveys of a spring-dwelling salamander, Eurycea naufragia. Southwestern Naturalist 57:162-165.
Pierce, B.A., J. L. Christiansen, A. L. Ritzer, and T. A. Jones. 2010. Ecology of Georgetown salamanders (Eurycea naufragia) within a spring flow. The Southwestern Naturalist 55:291-297.2008. .
Granda, J. R., R. M. Pena and B. A. Pierce. 2008. Effects of disturbance, position of observer, and moonlight on efficiency of anuran call surveys. Applied Herpetology 5:253-263.
Pierce, B. A. 2008. Developing a sustainable research program for tenure. Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly 29:23-28.
Honeycutt, B. B. and B. A. Pierce. 2007. Illustrating probability in genetics with hands-on learning: making the math real. American Biology Teacher 69:533-540.
Pierce, B. A. and K. J. Gutzwiller. 2007. Interobserver variation in frog call surveys. Journal of Herpetology 41:424-429.
Pierce, B. A. and K. J. Gutzwiller. 2004. Auditory sampling of frogs: detection efficiency in relation to survey duration. Journal of Herpetology 38:495-500.
Mullins, M. L., B. A. Pierce, and K. J. Gutzwiller. 2004. Assessment of quantitative enclosure sampling of larval amphibians. Journal of Herpetology 38:6-12.
Honors and Awards
Exemplary Teaching Award at Southwestern University, Division of Higher Education of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, United Methodist Church (2012)
Phi Beta Kappa
Fellow of the Texas Academy of Science
Ecological Studies of the Georgetown Salamander, Eurycea naufragia. $131,557. Williamson County Conservation Foundation, 2010-2015.
Student-Community Collaborative Research and Creative Works for the San Gabriel River Trail (with Michael Kamen and Laura Hobgood-Oster). $50,000. 3M Foundation, 2006-2010.
Equipment for Bioinformatics and Biochemistry Programs at Baylor University. $500,000. W. M. Keck Foundation, 2000.
Development of a Science Leadership Course for Community-Based Research (With Larry Lehr, Dan Wivagg, Ray Wilson, and Joe Yelderman) $49,500. 3M Foundation, 1999-2001.
Development of an Integrated, Multidisciplinary Science Literacy Course for Comprehensive Universities. (With Ann Rushing) $101,620. National Science Foundation, 1995.
Laboratory Activities for an Integrated, Multidisciplinary Science Literacy Course. (With Ann Rushing) $80,000. National Science Foundation, 1996.
Acid Sensitivity of Eggs and Larvae of Pothole-dwelling Amphibians From Canyonlands National Park. $3985. National Park Service, 1990-1992.
Geographic Variation in Acid Tolerance of Wood Frogs. $4,125. National Geographic Society, 1984.
Hiking, camping, canoeing, fly fishing, nature photography


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Dogs and Haikus-What's the Plot?
Lesson 2 of 8
Objective: SWBAT will use information gained from illustrations and words in print to demonstrate understanding of the characters and plot.
- Dogku by Andrea Clements
- Lesson vocabulary words from the Reading/Writing word wall:poetry, rhythm, plot, character, setting, problem, solution, climax, event, syllables
- Set up the whiteboard
- sample haiku on the board
- 9x11 construction paper and marker
- lined paper* (I chose to have the kids write on lined paper and use the construction paper for a picture the 2nd time I taught this)
- Poetry 'tree' (optional) I'll be using this visual throughout the unit
I loved this book because it blends poetry and literature! There are nice clear examples of Haiku in the book and they fit together to create a great plot line. Students often believe that a poem itself is the end result - they read it, look at the picture, and then move on. This book allowed them to see that a series of poems can be blended together to create a story.
The illustrations in this book were wonderful. There is so much information held in those pictures that add to that text. I really want my students to take the time to blend what they read from the fairly limited text with the rich illustrations to create inferences and understand the plot. (RL.2.7) The Common Core Standards ask the kids to go beyond the words and use what the illustrator adds to the text to improve comprehension through prediction, imagery, and inferencing.
I used the 'poetry tree' in all of my lessons in this unit to create a tool that pulled together all of the ideas and kinds of poetry. The kinds of poem are listed down the trunk and the ways that poetry help us are listed on the leaves.Some of my later lessons that allow me to use this vocabulary and the poetry tree are: Poetry What is it?, Reading Acrostics-Poetry of Letters, Poetry Takes Shape, Synonym, Adjective, Verb.. Put them in a Cinquain, Pieces of Meaning in Free Verse Poetry, Don't Worry-Alliteration and Onomatopoeia Help Us, and Long Vowels & Limericks-Looking at Poetry.
Resources (3)
Let's Get Excited!
Underlined words below are lesson vocabulary words that are emphasized and written on sentence strips for my Reading & Writing word wall. I pull off the words off the wall for each lesson, helping students understand this key 'reading and writing' vocabulary can be generalized across texts and topics. The focus on acquiring and using these words is part of a shift in the Common Core Standards towards building students' academic vocabulary. My words are color coded 'pink' for literature/'blue' for reading strategies/'orange' for informational text/'yellow' for writing/'green' for all other words.
Common starting point
- "We talked at the other day about poetry. Let's take a look at our ideas about poetry." Review the 'poetry tree'." (Poetry may have rhythm, rhyme, repeating words, it may not have sentences....)
- "Today we are going to talk about one kind of poetry called a haiku." Write that on the tree.
- "This author uses some really fun Haikus to create a great story about a lost dog that finds a family. Sometimes we read poetry because it's FUN!" Write that on the tree.
- This is how this introduction looked.
We discussed how rhyme, rhythm and other elements of poetry add meaning to the text (RL.2.4) in a previous lesson, but it is worth emphasizing again. Students need to realize that the author uses these techniques to specifically help the reader better understand the text and that they bring so much meaning to the poem or story.
This is one of the lessons in the beginning of my poetry unit. I used the 'poetry tree' in all of my lessons in this unit to create a tool that pulled together all of the ideas and kinds of poetry. The kinds of poem are listed down the trunk and the ways that poetry help us are listed on the leaves. I discussed repetition, rhyming and repeated words in my other lessons, including Poetry: What Is It?, Poetry Takes Shape, Reading Acrostic:The Poetry of Letters, Synonym Adjective Verb-Put Them In A Cinquain , Pieces of Meaning in Free Verse Poetry and Don't Worry: Alliteration and Onomatopoeia Help Us.
Teachers' Turn
Give the purpose of the lesson
- "A haiku is a poem with 3 lines. It has a pattern of syllables." (Review the idea of syllables - how many syllables in each month.. January 3, February 4,...)
- "Let's read a haiku and count the syllables in each line." This was the sample haiku. Count the syllables - 5, 7, 5."
- "A haiku has 3 lines - the first line has 5 syllables, the second line has 7 syllables, and the third line has 5 syllables."
- "The story I brought is full of haiku. We'll look at the words and illustrations to figure out the plot of the story."
- "As we read, listen to the rhythm of the story. Remember, poetry can have rhythm that makes it fun to read."
- "How do we figure out the plot of a story? We can use a plot line to figure out what is happening. The plot line has the story elements - characters, setting, events, problem and solution."
- Refer to the story line. "I'm passing out 3 index cards - cut them in half and label them with the story elements - character/setting, event, event, problem, solution, and climax."
- "As I read, I'll think about the plot. Since the text is haiku, the text is limited so the illustrations add a lot of meaning."
- Read the beginning of the book and stop. "On the first card for characters and setting, I'll write 'the dog comes to a house with a family'."
- Take a minute to verify the haiku pattern in the book.
- "I know there's a family because the picture shows a mom and dad with kids. I'll write that on the character/setting card." Here's how I explained that first event.
Guided Practice
- "Help me with an event in the story." Read through the page that starts with 'A dog needs a name..." Make sure to count the syllables to reinforce the idea of a Haiku pattern.
- "What do the illustrations and words show us? What event could we write?" Take ideas - the kids love the dog, he had a bath and some food. This was our discussion about the dog playing with kids.
- "Let's add that to the event box."
- Here is the completed whiteboard after this part of the lesson.
As I read my kids were using other reading strategies - predicting (I think that...) imaging (that family looks different that what I thought) and inferring (Is he named Mooch because he begs?). Encourage this - it's truly to epitome of what we are looking for - readers who use a variety of reading strategies to comprehend the text. Point out these strategies as students use them and guide the class toward more independent use.
Resources (8)
Students' Turn
Explain the task
- "Now we need to identify the other parts of the story. You have 3 cards left for another event, the problem, climax and solution."
- "It's your job to fill out those ideas from the story. You'll need to look at the illustrations and text because both show what is happening."
Let kids work and use formative assessment
- Continue reading and pause at the pages for another event, the problem, solution and climax.
- event - page that starts with 'first, "Arf...' or 'Nose out the window....'
- problem - page that starts with 'chew on dirty socks...'
- climax - page that starts with 'Dad puts on his coat...'
- solution - page that starts with 'A new doggy bowl...'
- In this portion of the lesson, I continued to really emphasize the meaning in the illustrations. My students still want to 'read' through the story to get it done, but need encouragement to take the time to really look at the pictures that bring meaning to the story.
- As we work, students are sharing out at each stopping place after they write. This is how I use formative assessment - I'm listening to their answers, building on what they say and garnering questions or comments from other students to gauge their understanding.
- Several of my students continued sharing inferences about the story. Encourage this - they are great models.
- Encourage kids to do some predicting about the climax of the story. It's a great opportunity to practice that skill and the story really lends itself to some ideas that the kids can relate to (taking care of a pet, pets making a mess)
- I did put some words up to help with spelling.
Create a plot line
- "Take your story element cards and create your own plot line on the large construction paper." Here's how I explained the task about drawing the line and adding ideas.
- This is a picture of a student adding elements and one of my student's plot lines.
Resources (7)
Extend Your Learning
Explain the task
- "Extend what you've learned by writing your own Haiku about an animal."
- "Remember the pattern - 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables."
- "Write the Haiku on the back of your paper and add a simple picture." I did remind them to make a simple picture in the interest of time.
- This was an example of one of my student's work.
Scaffolding and Special Education: This lesson could be scaffolded up or down, depending on student ability.
Students with language challenges may struggle more with this lesson because of the writing involved. They may benefit from working with a partner or from prompts on the whiteboard. They may have the verbal skills to describe the story elements (what the problem is...), but not the skills to describe it in writing. For the haiku writing, I helped a few students with their Haikus.
Those with higher language abilities should be challenged to use more inferences and higher level vocabulary. Instead of just describing the problem - 'the dog made a mess'- they could infer that 'the dog was bored so he got into trouble and created a mess'.


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NDSU Feedlot School scheduled
The North Dakota State University Feedlot School has been scheduled for Jan. 24 and 25 at the university's Carrington Research Extension Center.
The course will focus on feedlot production, nutrition, waste management and marketing.
"There are new markets for fat cattle much closer to our North Dakota feedlots, which will lower transportation costs," said Vern Anderson, animal scientist at the CREC in a press release. "This, coupled with increased demand for USDA Choice beef by the world market, provides opportunity for feeding our exceptionally high-quality cattle right here in North Dakota."


text:
In addition to the supplements, it is important to reduce dietary and medical sources of yeast growth stimulants, such as antibiotics, hormones, and a high intake of sugar. Hormones or antibiotics may be necessary for medical reasons, but the resulting yeast overgrowth needs to be controlled. Of course, refined, white sugar is always avoidable, with a little determination, if you really want to keep it out of your diet.
Although they may be combined with medications when indicated, the following supplements are commonly used to help control the yeast overgrowth:
I often recommend a mixture of Lactobacillus acidophilus with the Bifidobacterium bifidum, either in capsule or powder form. This combination helps both the large and small intestines. The dose of powder is usually ½ tsp twice per day at the start of treatment and ¼ tsp twice per day after some improvement. In addition to these specifics, I would recommend that you take the usual general health supplements and immune enhancers such as the following:
These supplements and several others may be indicated for the management of various symptoms that people with candidiasis often experience. It is important to have a proper diagnosis, in case your symptoms are from other causes.


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Is there going to be light at the end of the tunnel for the dilapidated playground at Pershing Field?
Parents in the Jersey City Heights community where the park is located sure hope so, arguing the playground equipment is so old it's a safety hazard for kids.
This week, the Pershing Field Garden Friends Neighborhood Association will meet to get community input regarding the city's playground renovation plans and a possible relocation of the playground and a nearby basketball court.
But the biggest hurdle the playground renovation project faces is a lack of money to get the job done.
Holding pattern
Plans to renovate the playground at Pershing Field date back to 2005, when the Pershing Field Garden Friends took a survey of what the community wanted from this park.
"We knew that coming down the pike the city was going to put together a master plan for its parks, and we wanted to be able to have some input into that," said Laura Skolar, president of the Pershing Field Garden Friends.
The neighborhood group took a survey of its members and other residents in the community around 2005 and 2006. Some of the survey respondents suggested that the location of the playground and basketball court be switched.
"Right now, the playground is on the busier, more active side of the park," Skolar explained. "The basketball court is kind of tucked in the southwest corner of the park, which some people thought would be a better location for a children's playground. But it would require more money to [make this switch]."
'The playground at Pershing Field is extremely dilapidated and unsafe, despite the visible patch-job attempts by the city to stabilize the playground equipment.' – Bilyana Dimitrova
The city eventually applied for a $3 million Green Acres grant, but received only $900,000 to renovate seven parks, including Pershing Field, according to Rodney Hadley, director of the Jersey City Department of Public Works. Hadley said plans to renovate the playground in Pershing Field have been on hold ever since – partly because the city doesn't have all the resources it needs to do the necessary work, and partly because his department is waiting for the community to decide whether it wants to swap the playground and basketball court or not.
The price tag to switch the playground and basketball court, according to Hadley, would be about $1 million, while the playground renovation project will cost about $600,000 alone.
Parents on playground: 'It's depressing'
As this issue has dragged on without a resolution the playground has only become more run down, to the dismay of parents who say it's the only outlet for outdoor play for their children.
"My husband and I have been home owners in the Heights since 2004 and have always felt very fortunate to have Pershing Field within walking distance from our home," said Bilyana Dimitrova. "As far as 'green space' this park serves the residents well for walking or ball playing. But as far as offering a playground for our children, it fails miserably. It was not until my husband and I had our daughter, who is now 21 months, that we found out about the state of the playground firsthand."
She said, "The playground at Pershing Field is extremely dilapidated and unsafe, despite the visible patch-job attempts by the city to stabilize the playground equipment. What is very sad about all of this is that despite the playground's current condition it still continues to be used by many children each day, who clearly have no other option. There is no other playground for them to walk to. A broken-down, graffiti covered, rusted playground is their only current option. Our children deserve much better."
Other parents say they refuse to even let their kids play in the Pershing Field playground.
"When I moved to Jersey City from New York City I was extremely excited to have a park across the street from my home," said Melanie Class. "The park has so many amazing assets. There's a track for running, tennis courts, a pool, an ice skating rink, a baseball field, and a playground. I didn't have a child back then so I didn't pay much attention to the playground. Now that I have a three-year-old child, I would like to use it. But, the playground is so unsafe and hazardous, I'm too afraid to let her play freely. The condition of the equipment is deplorable."
Another mother, Michele Mason Holmberg, said she noticed the condition of the playground as soon as she moved into the neighborhood.
"One of the first things I noted was the deplorable condition of the Pershing Field playground," said Holmberg. "I would bring my toddler, Jack, over to play and could not believe how damaged and dangerous the equipments was. On one of the slides, I couldn't let him climb to the top because the stairs were loose and he could have easily pinched a finger in between the metal parts. The rubber flooring literally had, and still has, huge potholes in it where the hard cement underneath shows through. Most of the equipment is covered in graffiti, bleached by the sun, or barely held together by repairs. It's depressing."
Still, she said, "On a warm day the place is packed with families and kids. It's clear to me that this is the only option for outdoor play for a lot of our neighbors."
Funds still needed
The Pershing Field Garden Friends will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19 in the Pershing Field Vietnam Veterans Memorial to discuss the playground issue. Skolar hopes the community can come to a resolution regarding the location of the playground and basketball court next month.
Once this issue is resolved, however, she acknowledges the city will still need additional resources to improve the condition of the Pershing Field playground.
Some members of the community have volunteered to help find additional resources from nonprofit foundations.
E-mail E. Assata Wright at email@example.com.